Prior to 1971 the General Service Administration’s (GSA) United States
Special Policeman (USSP) conducted law enforcement, safety and security functions
at the Pentagon. The protection programs were primarily a “guard-watchman” operation,
where USSP were primarily concerned with the protection of property. However,
in response to a growing number of disruptive incidents throughout the country
affecting federal facilities under GSA control, attention to the security program
had to be re-examined. As a result of mass demonstrations, bombings and bomb
threats within the country and region, the Federal Protective Service (FPS)
was established and the comprehensive protection of Pentagon personnel rather
than the previous policy of concentration on property were developed.

On October 1, 1987, the GSA Administrator delegated authority for protecting
the Pentagon Reservation to the Department of Defense (DoD). In order to carry
out the new mission, DoD established the Defense Protective Service (DPS) as
a new organization within the Washington Headquarters Service (WHS).

The DPS Chief of Police managed this organization under delegations of authority
from the Secretary of Defense down the chain-of-command through the Director
of Washington Headquarters Service and the Director of Pentagon Real Estate
and Facilities (RE&F). The Chief of Police and Assistant Chief of Police
directed the development of the current police force. Several DPS elements
including the Emergency Response Team, the Protective Service Unit, the Mobile
Command Post, and K-9 section have recently received a high degree of recognition
by law enforcement agencies across the nation. The recognitions received were
mainly attributed to the dynamic leadership displayed by the Chief and Asst.
Chief in response to the terrorist attack on the Pentagon and the result of
magnificent and dynamic law enforcement consequence management after the attack.
DPS played a pivotal role in the "9-11" investigation, one of the
United States most complex law enforcement challenges ever attempted. The highly
coordinated efforts involved practically every federal, civilian and military
law enforcement agency.